UCP supports joined-up care for thousands more Londoners

One year on from the expansion of the Universal Care Plan (UCP), thousands more Londoners have more personalised, joined-up care, according to OneLondon.

The UCP is an NHS service that enables Londoners in the capital to have their care plans digitally shared with health and care professionals across the capital.

In total more than 96,000 people living or receiving care in London have a care plan on the system, compared to around 82,000 when the UCP expansion took place a year ago.

This includes more than 12,300 people with frailty, more than 11,800 people with dementia, more than 1,100 people with learning disabilities and/or autism, and around 250 people who are carers.

Nick Tigere, head of the UCP Programme, said: “It is great news that since the UCP expanded to new care pathways such as learning disability and frailty a year ago, we have taken another step in equipping our health and care professionals with the clinical tools they need to better support their patients.

“This is helping to ensure they receive the right care wherever they are in the capital.”

He added that work continues to ensure that every Londoner who needs one has a UCP, so more people benefit from joined-up care.

Last year, the UCP expanded beyond disease-specific planning, introducing new care planning sections for patients with dementia, frailty, learning disabilities, and autism.

This followed an expansion to support sickle cell disease patients in March 2024 and diabetes and chronic pain patients in November 2024.

A care plan is created on the UCP system following a conversation between a patient and a professional involved in their care. Once saved, it is visible to all health and care services which use the system, including those who may care for the patient during an emergency.

This helps to ensure a patient’s wishes and preferences are considered, so that they receive the care and outcomes reflecting what matters to them.

During 2025 there were around 453,000 views of care plans by health and care staff, according to OneLondon, a 30% increase on 2024. This includes 130,000 views by urgent care staff, a 62% increase on 2024.

Barbara Benedek, member of the UCP’s people with lived experience group, said: “As a patient, it is reassuring to me to know that, if I need medical care urgently, the paramedics, A&E staff and others who will look after me, will know about my medical conditions, my medication and my wishes about my care.

“That is what the UCP does for Londoners.”

Patients can also view with UCP on the NHS App or web browser, helping to reassure them that their care plans are communicated correctly to the professionals looking after them. Work is underway to enable Londoners to directly input into their care plans via the NHS App or web browser.